Ecological and Statistical Perspectives on Host-Parasite Interactions in Cyprinus carpio

Abstract

This study investigates the parasite fauna of C. carpio inhabiting the Yenidal Irrigation Pond, focusing on temporal distribution patterns, host size-parasite load relationships, and the influence of water parameters on parasitic prevalence. A total of 41 fish specimens were examined between May and November 2023. Parasitological analyses revealed three parasite species: Dactylogyrus extensus, Dactylogyrus anchoratus, and Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, with an overall infection rate of 75.6%. D. extensus exhibited the highest prevalence, infecting 65.9% of the fish, while D. anchoratus was present in 48.8% of the specimens. Additionally, I. multifiliis, the causative agent of white spot disease, was detected in only one specimen, though with a very high intensity. D. extensus exhibited the highest prevalence during summer, while D. anchoratus was more dominant in autumn. Statistical analyses indicated a significant positive correlation between parasite load and dissolved oxygen levels (r = 0.514, p = 0.010) and host size (r = 0.592, p < 0.01). However, no significant difference was found in condition factor between infected and non-infected fish (p = 0.653). These findings highlight the ecological dynamics of parasite-host interactions in an artificial freshwater ecosystem and emphasize the importance of continuous monitoring to understand the impact of environmental conditions on parasite prevalence.

Keywords

• Cyprinus carpio
• parasite ecology
• temporal distribution
• host-parasite interaction
• water quality
• prevalence modeling

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